Fact Sheet: Zebra Finches

No licence required

Common colours: Fawn, White, Pied, black-breasted, black-fronted, charcoal, yellow-beaked, marked white, chestnut-flanked white.

Normal = grey.

Males have a bright red beak, barred chest and throat, reddish flanks with white spots. Hens are devoid of these markings and have a pale reddish yellow beak.

* Other Mutations/Colours may become available at times.

FEEDING

DRY SEED MIXTURE: comprising millets and plain canary seed.

FRESH WATER: for drinking and bathing

REGULAR GREENS: such as milk thistle, endive, dandelion, seeding grasses, etc.

SOAKED/SPROUTED SEEDS, CUTTLEFISH, SHELLGRIT, CHARCOAL.

HOUSING

AVIARIES*: minimum height 60cm; 3700 sq.cm. first bird, add 1800sq.cm. per extra bird

CAGES*: minimum height 34cm; 1000 sq.cm. first bird, add 500 sq.cm. per extra bird

PLANTS: most individuals do not harm plants. Beware of toxic plants

MIXING: can be somewhat overpowering to quieter species, monopolizing nesting materials, investigating other bird’s nests and claiming priority at feed stations.

Some species may hybridise with other members of this group. Therefore, they should not be kept together. It is illegal to deliberately let this happen.

ROOSTING: some build roosting nests to sleep in at night.

*In Victoria, a Code of Practice for the housing of caged birds applies to the keeping of birds in captivity and requires you to provide adequate space, food, water, etc. for your birds. These codes are available from Agriculture Victoria. Measurements are based on the largest species of the group.

 

 

FACT SHEETS:
(NOTE: ALL LICENCING INFORMATION RELATES TO VICTORIA ONLY)